Business Travel Executive, March 2020

42 Business Travel Executive askBTE com March 2020 CWT DEBUTS MESSAGE SERVICE ON MYCWT PLATFORM British Airways First to Use ARC Ticketing Authority API B ritish Airways is the first airline to use the new ARC Ticketing Authority application programming interface an optional service that enables airlines to instantly confirm US based travel agencies ARC accreditation status and ticketing authority British Airways said it will leverage the tool as part of its NDC strategy in partnership with Hopper one of its direct connect partners British Airways expects to continue leveraging the API as it expands its NDC connections with other US based agencies The API gives the airline confidence that it will present NDC offers only to those agencies in good standing with ARC and with whom British Airways has a ticketing relationship according to Rogier van Enk head of distribution at British Airways Aventri Teams with VenueBook World Travel Unveils Hotel Shopping Bot Powered by Tripbam W orld Travel Inc one of the largest independent travel management companies in the US has launched a new Hotel Shopping Bot powered by Tripbam provider of fully automated hotel re shopping services With the new offering World Travel sends hotel bookings to Tripbam where they are monitored daily When a lower rate is found at the same property Tripbam automatically rebooks the same room at the reduced rate The Hotel Shopping Bot comes in two modes Essential customers receive automatic rebooking and daily rate shopping at like for like properties Premium customers add the ability to customize their re shopping configurations to allow for clusters of properties in a geographic region as well as receiving enhanced reporting and analytics n TF TECH FILES A ent company has entered a partnership with VenueBook which connects event planners with nontraditional events spaces online The partnership will integrate VenueBooks direct booking technology and database of nontraditional venues with Aventris platform The tool provides real time access to available space transparent pricing and a proprietary booking engine The Aventri VenueBook partnership aims to create the first all in one sourcing negotiating and booking platform for group space available as part of Aventri Strategic Venue Sourcing C WT has launched a message service on its myCWT platform The new textbased channel allows clients employees to quickly and conveniently reach a CWT counselor 24 7 from their desktop mobile device or other third party client approved messaging app The messaging service offers a hybrid approach combining automation with service from travel experts according to Niklas Andreen chief traveler experience officer Traveling employees access myCWT messaging in both the myCWT app and on the web or through Facebook Messenger with more interfaces to come in 2020 The service has been available to over 20 CWT clients for nearly a year